Telstra donates $1 to the Salvation Army every time a payphone is used to call Santa

Wondering if you’re on the naughty or nice list this year? Telstra’s payphones are offering a free call to the North Pole until Christmas Eve.

Territorians can find out if they’re on Santa’s naughty or nice list with a free call to the North Pole this year.

Telstra is offering free phone calls to Santa, Mrs Claus and an elf via its national network of 15,000 phone booths until December 24.

Simply dial # HO HO HO – or # 46 46 46 – to reach Santa’s workshop.

Press 1 to reach Santa himself, 2 to reach Mrs Claus, or 3 to reach one of the elves.

Lilly Courtney uses a payphone in Darwin to call Santa’s workshop and speak with the festive team in the North Pole. Picture: Glenn Campbell

Territorians have access to 550 Telstra phone booths, with 100 located in the Darwin and Palmerston regions and another 60 around Alice Springs.

Telstra will donate $1 to the Salvation Army for every phone call made to support the community’s most vulnerable members.

Your very own direct line to Santa’s Workshop 🎅☎

— Telstra News (@Telstra_news) December 5, 2022

A Telstra spokesman said the festive initiative was also an easy way to teach young members of the community how to use a payphone.

“We all know how to use touchscreen smartphones these days, but we reckon there’s something a bit magical about picking up a payphone, hearing the dial tone and punching the numbers into the keypad,” he said.

“Use this as a fun way to teach your younger loved ones where your nearest payphone is, and also how to dial ‘000’ if there’s an emergency.

“If you do, don’t forget to teach or remind them your home address as well.”

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Originally published as Telstra donates $1 to the Salvation Army every time a payphone is used to call Santa